Gangster State

from the podium.^4
Mpambani had clearly been on Magashule’s mind during that week.
On the Tuesday before the rally, he received an invitation to the
premier’s upcoming State of the Province Address. As had happened
the previous year, it appears that Mpambani drove down to
Bloemfontein specifically for the event on 16 February. Data in the
IgoFiles shows that he swiped 605 Consulting’s bank card at toll gates
en route.
The FSHS transferred the seventh instalment to Blackhead–Diamond
Hill on 28 April 2016. It amounted to exactly R 15 million. Mpambani
transferred half of it to Sodi’s Blackhead Consulting and the remaining
R 7. 5 million to 605 Consulting. From the latter account, Mpambani
made the usual payments for ‘engineering services’ and ‘professional
services’. Less than two weeks later, only about R 200 000 of the R 7. 5
million remained in the 605 Consulting account.
In keeping with the pattern, Mpambani travelled to Bloemfontein
frequently after receiving the latest instalment. On Monday 9 May, he
withdrew R 100 000 in cash from the FNB ATM around the corner
from Free State House. He almost certainly had contact with
Magashule or someone close to him that week, as evidenced by events.
According to his diary, Magashule was at the ANC’s Bloemfontein
offices on Friday 13 May to prepare for the party’s manifesto launch.
That same day, Mpambani transferred R 50 000 from the 605
Consulting account for ‘bus shuttle service’. The ANC’s manifesto
launch for the upcoming local government elections took place the
following day. It was held in Botshabelo, near Bloemfontein, with
Zuma as the keynote speaker. Magashule also delivered a speech.
Considering the timing of the payment and the fact that Mpambani was